$433,000 School Budget Increase Approved By School Committee

After three budget workshops in as many weeks, the completed its final budget workshop on March 23, voting in favor of a final budget proposal requiring $433,030.67 over current funding levels.

With the increase, the fiscal 2012 school budget would total $48.84 million, an increase of about 1 percent. The vote was 4-0, with Member Joseph Rotella (Dist. 4) absent.

Members said they felt the request was as low as they could have made it.

“[The district] can’t be level funded for a fourth year in a row. This is not asking a lot,” said Robert LaFazia (Dist. 1), who noted that the committee could have requested $1.5 million, or a 4.5 percent increase, under the state's tax cap.

The increase was reduced from the original $1 million because of the use of $400,000 in surplus funds carried over from the current year; the new spending plan also includes $79,000 to support the out-of-district school tuition increase and new vocational and Advanced Placement courses at , as well as more music supplies.

Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo told the committee that the final budget proposal represents the minimum needed to fund instructional programs.

“We have reduced as much as possible,"  saidDiLullo. "We can’t cut out anymore, because then we will start cutting essential teachers, (and) that would hurt our education significantly.”

Among the final attempts made by the committee to find savings was a proposal made by Member Lorraine Iafrate (Dist. 2) on March 16 that the paper towel dispensers in local schools be replaced with hand dryers.

Director of Facilities David Cournoyer and Business Manager Melissa Devine explained on March 23 that the cost of installing 40 hand dryer units in the high school would, in the end, not provide any significant savings.

“The warranty lasts for three years, but it would take five years for us to get a payback from the investment,” Cournoyer explained, adding that the cost for the units themselves, not counting installation, would be $11,400.

The board also reinstated a $50,000 reduction in the fuel oil line item proposed on March 16 by Rotella.

"We have to find the money somewhere," Rotella said at the earlier workshop. "I'd rather take the shot and roll the dice."

On March 23, the committee approved LaFazia's motion to put the $50,000 back into the budget, rather than take the risk of needing additional funds during the fiscal year.

The committee is expected to submit the final budget proposal to Mayor Joseph M. Polisena on April 1.